The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-23
STORY OF MARSHAL BAzA1NE.
Career of Man Who Committed One of the
Greatest of Military Sins.

Greayess of Military Sins.
Chicago Herald.
If the dagger of De Nilraine had found its
way to the life of Bazaine it cannot be denied
that large faction in France would have APP
plauded the act and re-echoed the assassin's
words: Jai avenge ma patrie Il have avenged
my country Since that memorable lay in 1871,
when the junior marshal of the French army
captulated at Metz. and surrendered &c Prince
Frederick Charles the most magnificent army
that ever laid down its arms, there has been
party in France which never breathed the I'M
fortunate Generals name except with cures.
The career of Francois Achille Bazaine was
distinguished almost from its beginning He
was born in February. 1911 Having finished a
course at the Ecole Polytechnique. he entered
the army In 1881, served in Africa in 1882, was
promoted to the grade of lieutenant in 1886,
and received the cross of the Legion of Honor on
the field of battle in the same year.
In 1887 he was engaged in the cam
palgn IN Spain against the Carlists. and
returned to Algeria with the rank of captain in
1889. He took part in the expeditions of Mil
lanah kabylia and Morocco: appointed at
the outbreak of the war in the East to the COM
manc OF brigade, and during the siege OF
Sevastopol was honorably mentioned in the dis
patches of Marshals Canrobert and Pelissier
He was subsequently, made general of dIvis-
ion. and commanded the French portion of the
expedition which reduced Kinburn. In 1862
BaZaine accepted command in the French ex-
petition to Mexico, where he distinguished him.
self. succeeding Marshal Fovey in the supreme
command in 1868. In September 1864, he was
created marshal of France. While holding
this high position he drove back President
Juarez to the frontier of Mexico, and made him
self master of Oajaca. whose garrison, number
ing 1000 men, SURRENDERED to him uncondition-
ally. He also organized system of guerilla
warfare, which was carried into effect with
much bravery by the notorious Colonel Dupin.
Fatal misunderstanding, however. arose be-
tween Bazane and the ill-starred Emperor Max
imlian and the former was also embarrassed in
his operations by the policy of the United States
AT length, in 1861 Marshal BaZaine, finding the
maintenance OF the empire in Mexico impossi
BILE, commenced operations for conducting his
troops back to France. He concentrated them
in Vera Cruz. and prepared general embarka-
ton, while vigorously repeling the last of the
natives. On March II, 1867, he Quilted Vera
Cruz with the whole evolutionary forces. The
same year he was nominated commander-in-chef
of the Imperial Guard.
1t was. however, in the great war of 1901,
between France and Germany, that the name Of
Bazaine became most familiar to the outside
world. Having played conspicuous part in the
early engagements of the contest, he retired. on
the capituation OF Sedan, to the fortress of Metz
which was Immediately invested by the German
forces under Prince Frederick Charles. A siege
of seven weeks ensued, when Bazaine astouuded
the world and condemned his name to eternal
ignominy by surrendering 173, 900 men. 5000
officers, fifty generals and three marshals. By
comparison. the surrender of Pemberson at
Vicksburg. with his 10000 men. though of so
great importance to Grant and the Union cause,
sinks into insignifcance. No such thing as the
giving up of l73, 600 armed and disciplined men
had ever occurred before or has ever occurred
since. France, smarting under the disgrace of
defeat, sprang up with an indignant protest.
There was talk or treason. of cowardice of even
worse. Bazaine retreated to England. and there
remained until August, 1871. when he was sum-
moned to Versailles by the military commission
of the National Assembly. In consequence of
their report the Marshal was turned over to a
council of war, Organized by special law, and
was imprisoned at Versailles during the prelim-
mary examination in May 1872. He was after.
ward tried at the Grand Trianon of Versailles
by a court-martal of general officers, presided
over by General le Due dAumale. He was
! charged not only with lncapactv in permitting
himself to be surrounded with an equal force
! but also of reasonable design Of
making himself, by the connivance of the
| enemy, independent Of the government of ma
| tiopal defense The trial ended in December
1873 On the charge of political bad faith the
court made no return, but the marshal was
| unanimously voted to be guilty upon the charge
that he had not done all that was required by
duty aud honor. He was condemned to degra
| dalton and death. but with a recommendation
for mercy. President Mcmahon ute6 tn,
sentence to Imprisonment for twenty years an(
remitted the ceremony which usually accompa
MES the sentence of degradation. Bazaine wa
deprived OF all his dignities. dismissed the army
and sent to undergo his sentence at the island o
Sainte Marguerite, off the coast of Cannes
| Here he lived for nine months with his wife anC
his OLD aidde-camp, Colonel Villette. Nine
| BaZaine sought an interview with President Nc
Mahon, hoping to obtain decree allowing he
| husband to spend his life in exile, but not pris
oner. Mcmahon declined to interfere but, it i
thought, furnished ground for the hope tina
Bazane might escape This the latter achieved
in August. 1874 by rope from the window o
the fortress in which he was confined. 1t after
ward appeared that Nine. Bazalne had bee
waiting for her husband in boat at the foot O
the rock. Bazaine proceeded to Italy. thence t
Cologne. thence to England. and ultimately too
I'D his residence in Madrid.
In September. 1874, Bazaine wrote to the Me-
| York Herald an elaborate explanation of hi
course at Metz. The same subject furnished
theme for book published in April 1889; an
dedicated to Queen Isabella of Spain. In re
cent number of Scribners Magazine. also, o.
Minister Washburne makes public letter fror
the ex Marshal explaining the great surrende
on the plea of incompetencv, alleging the CON
paratve youth of the writer and the pecuis
responsibilities resting upon him. He gave Ut
as he saws in this letter. only because he sa
nothing better to be done with his men, In TIM
conclusion, however, the majority of Frenchme
do not agree. If De Nlliraine's attack had bee
successful most of his countrymen would hav
Joined with him in crying 'Jai avenge NJ
patrie"